Chapter 43: This Isn’t Rain; It’s Gu Yuchen’s Tears

When Wen Zhixian saw Qi Yanjing, her heart filled with joy, but she didn’t dare to take a step forward.

She was afraid Gu Yuchen’s words had made Qi Yanjing despise her. She thought that if she ran to him and got pushed away, it would feel worse than just standing there and watching from a distance.

Qi Yanjing noticed her hesitation and quickened his pace, holding the cake in one hand. His long fingers gently brushed her face, and his voice was soft and full of affection: “Why didn’t you wait for me at home? Are you cold?”

Wen Zhixian looked up at him, her nose tingling as her eyes filled with tears. Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of sobbing: “Why didn’t you come home?”

Qi Yanjing lifted the cake in his hand. “I bought you a cake. Something sweet might cheer you up a bit.”

Earlier, he had thought that Zhixian would be feeling upset. Seeing a dessert shop still open, he decided to bring something back. Just as the shop was about to close, there was one last piece of cake left.

Wen Zhixian suddenly threw herself into his arms. “I thought you wouldn’t talk to me anymore.”

Qi Yanjing sighed helplessly. “I’m not that fragile. You’ve told me everything about you and Gu Yuchen. I understand it all.”

What disgusted him wasn’t the situation—it was hearing those words come out of Gu Yuchen’s mouth.

He bent down slightly and scooped her up in his arms. “Why did you come out dressed like this?”

Wen Zhixian wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled against his shoulder. “I saw you leave from upstairs, so I came down to find you.”

“Afraid Gu Yuchen might pick on me?”

Wen Zhixian softly murmured, “Mhm.”

“I thought the things Gu Yuchen said had made you angry.”

Qi Yanjing finally understood why she had come looking for him. Yet, when she saw him, she just stood there quietly, as if afraid he would be annoyed by her.

“How could I?”

What had truly changed his perspective was the time Zhixian encountered Shen Zhi.

Even though she was upset, she didn’t start a fight without first asking for clarity. She had said they were the closest people to each other and shouldn’t let doubt give others an opportunity to exploit them.

He remembered that.

Now that he thought about it, if he told Gu Yuchen that he and Zhixian shared a bed every night, given Gu Yuchen’s rabid-dog personality, they would probably end up in a fight.

Well… they definitely would.

Still, he wasn’t that petty. Those weren’t things one should casually mention.

Wen Zhixian whispered in his ear, “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“It ran out of battery and shut off.” He hadn’t expected today to be so unlucky. If his phone hadn’t died, he would’ve told her where he was going in advance, and she wouldn’t have had to wander the cold night in slippers to find him.

Wen Zhixian finally relaxed. “Then how did you buy the cake?”

She blinked at Qi Yanjing, curious if he had relied on his good looks to get credit.

“I usually keep some cash in my pocket,” he said, relieved by the habit.

Although… if he hadn’t had that habit, borrowing a charger to turn his phone back on would’ve saved Zhixian a lot of worry.

Qi Yanjing asked softly, “Were you about to cry just now?”

Wen Zhixian leaned against him and shook her head in denial. “No, I’m not the type to cry.”

He chuckled lightly. “Mhm, not the type to cry.”

Wen Zhixian’s eyes stung again. Surrounded by the woody scent from him, the overwhelming sadness from earlier began to fade. Feeling safe in his arms, she soon fell asleep.

Qi Yanjing walked slowly; there was still some distance to go before they’d be home.

Not far away, Song Kairui and Qin Zhaoli, who had just dropped off Gu Yuchen, turned their car around and happened to see Qi Yanjing and Wen Zhixian through the window.

Song Kairui pulled over by the roadside, observing for a few seconds before noticing the dessert box in Qi Yanjing’s hand. He couldn’t help but sigh. “What does Gu Yuchen have to compete with this guy?”

“At least he got slapped by Zhixian today. Maybe he’ll settle down now,” Qin Zhaoli replied.

Song Kairui originally crossed his arms, but upon hearing Qin Zhaoli’s words, he spread his hands and said, “Honestly, I have no idea.”

Gu Yuchen never played by the rules; who knew what he was thinking?

Suddenly, a few drops of water fell onto the windshield. Thinking it might have come from the trees, they didn’t give it much thought—until a few more drops fell.

Qin Zhaoli extended her hand out of the car window and turned to Song Kairui. “It seems like it’s starting to rain.”

Song Kairui clicked his tongue and glanced at Qi Yanjing in the distance. “Talk about bad timing.”

“Do you have an umbrella in the car?” Qin Zhaoli asked.

Song Kairui thought for a moment. “Funny enough, I actually bought an automatic umbrella the other day.”

It was sheer coincidence; something he bought on a whim just days ago turned out to be useful today.

He retrieved the umbrella from the backseat, turned to Qin Zhaoli, and said, “Wait here; I’ll go give it to them.”

Qin Zhaoli opened the car door and got out with him. “Let’s go together.”

Song Kairui chuckled, opened the umbrella with the push of a button, and pulled Qin Zhaoli under its canopy. The rain seemed to be getting heavier.

The sudden rain worried Qi Yanjing. Afraid of waking Wen Zhixian, he adjusted his arm to shield her face with his hand.

They were already at the entrance of their apartment complex, but it would take another two or three minutes to get home.

Suddenly, an umbrella was held above his head. Surprised, Qi Yanjing stopped and turned to see Song Kairui and Qin Zhaoli.

Song Kairui, ever thoughtful, handed him the umbrella. Qin Zhaoli teased, “Don’t let our Zhixian get wet.”

“Hurry home. We’re heading off,” Song Kairui said, pulling Qin Zhaoli with him as they jogged away.

As they ran, Song Kairui slung an arm over Qin Zhaoli’s shoulders and used his hand to shield her head from the rain.

“Didn’t they say there wouldn’t be rain today?” Qin Zhaoli looked up. Even the weather forecast hadn’t mentioned it.

How strange.

Song Kairui quipped, “This isn’t rain—it’s Gu Yuchen’s tears.”

Qin Zhaoli burst out laughing. “With you around, Gu Yuchen’s misery is endless.”

Qi Yanjing stood under the umbrella for a moment, watching the two of them disappear into the distance.

A smile tugged at his lips. Zhixian had two wonderful friends.

…

Back at the apartment building, Qi Yanjing folded the umbrella and took the elevator up.

At home, he gently placed Wen Zhixian on the bed. A glance at her hand caught his attention—it was red.

Comparing her two palms, he noticed her right hand was indeed redder than the left.

Did she hit Gu Yuchen?

Qi Yanjing sat at the edge of the bed, pondering for a few seconds before the corner of his lips curled up.

Whatever Gu Yuchen said clearly rattled him, and it was satisfying to think he got what he deserved.

He tucked Wen Zhixian in and then returned to the living room to take off his coat.

The dining table still held the food she had prepared, though it had gone completely cold.

In the kitchen, he found a pot of fish head tofu soup. She had mentioned buying fish earlier in the day.

He served himself a bowl and reheated some of the other dishes, eating alone at the dining table.

Something felt off, even unsettling.

It seemed he had grown used to eating with Zhixian.

After finishing his meal and tidying up, he showered before heading to the study to work on unfinished tasks.

…

Wen Zhixian woke up around nine, finding herself in the bedroom.

The events of the night ran through her mind.

Qi Yanjing had carried her back, though she couldn’t remember when she had fallen asleep.

Sitting up, she realized she didn’t have much of an appetite. Perhaps the encounter with Gu Yuchen downstairs had affected her mood too much.

Not finding her shoes by the bed, she walked barefoot out of the bedroom.

As she reached the living room, Qi Yanjing emerged from the study. Without a word, he went to the entryway, took a pair of slippers from the shoe rack, and placed them in front of her.